Speak Your Mind: Taking on the Authorities

A few weeks ago, Rebecca Watson posted a video of a CFI conference panel moderated by Jessica Ahlquist. (Jen McCreight over at BlagHag also has nothing but nice things to say about Jessica’s talk at the Secular Student Alliance Conference.) Jessica, the CFI on Campus Volunteer High School Coordinator, went to a high school that hung a Christian “School Prayer” banner in its auditorium. She complained, and is now – along with the ACLU – challenging the practice in court. The panel is filled with similarly eloquent and intelligent young people who stand up for what they believe in, even when it puts them up against THE MAN.

Dooooood. Kids today. It takes such incredible courage to say no to this type of behavior, especially when it would just be easier to keep your head down and power through. I know that I wouldn’t have the guts to confront my high school administration. Luckily, that need never arose, but it does for a lot of middle and high school students.

Have you ever had to take on the authorities in order to enforce your rights? Did you meet resistance from teachers, friends and parents? What kind of support did you have, or not have? As the school year begins, do you think this type of activism will be necessary in your school?

2 Comments

I have a habit of speaking my mind about what is fair and honest when I feel myself or someone else has been wronged by “The Man”. However I only seem to do this as a spur of the moment thing. If I actually think about doing something about it, I won’t. Friends have always supported me, which has been a life savour at time.

As a side note, I’m 25 & male…so not your prime demographic. But I just wanted to say that I have been reading teen skepchick more often recently. Because in the last few weeks there has been quite a few articles that are better than what is on the main skepchick webpage. This is no slight to the skepchick page which is great, but I would just like to see more traffic driven to what you have here. So if any of the skepchicks are reading this it may be an idea to copy the best articles from here on the main page, so they get maximum exposure. Just my 2c.

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